Covalent Solar’s waveguide photovoltaic, is a module innovation that combines the beneficial features of existing, disparate product solutions without their attendant drawbacks. By utilizing a unique optical collection technique based on waveguides, WPVs enable the reduction in expensive semiconductor components possible with optical concentration without the requirement of tracking and cooling subsystems in a thin-film module-type configuration. By increasing power conversion efficiency without high cost manufacturing, the power output of each solar panel increases compared to thin film modules, reducing installation, maintenance, and overall system cost.

Waveguide photovoltaics  are glass sheets doped or coated with emissive materials. The chromophore absorber layer captures sunlight and re-emits it at lower energy. The radiated light is trapped in the waveguide substrate by total internal reflection, the principle that enables fiber optics. The confined light is distributed within the light guide and is coupled to photovoltaic receivers attached to the guide.

The material set which forms the optical collector is based on earth-abundant, non-toxic, stable materials produced in a highly scalable process.